Worldwide

North, Central & South America (including Hawaii and the Caribbean), Africa, Middle East,
Antarctica, Sub-Antarctic Islands and any other destination not listed below. Automatically includes cover for all other Regions.

Europe

All EU countries including the UK & Russian Federation. Automatically includes cover for the Regions of Asia, Pacific, New Zealand & Domestic.

Asia

All Asian countries including Japan.Choose Worldwide for Middle East countries.Automatically includes cover for the Regions of Pacific, New Zealand & Domestic.

Departure & Return Dates

For Already Overseas policies, your departure datemust be at least 2 days AFTER the dateyou purchase the policy.

Travellers and ages

Select the kind of policy that best suits your trip.

Single

Covers 1 Adult and up to 10 dependant children under 21 years of age.

Duo

Covers 2 Adults and no dependant children. The two travellers do not have to be related, they just have to be travelling
on the same itinerary. Discount applies when both travellers are listed on the same Duo policy, versus two Single policies.

Family

Covers 2 Adults and up to 10 dependant children under 21 years of age. A Family policy covers you, your spouse
(or legally recognised defacto) and dependant children or grandchildren. Benefit limits shown in the Table of Benefits in the PDS apply to the
total of all claims combined, regardless of the number of persons the claims relate to.

Children travelling alone should take an adult policy.

Taking a Cruise

Pacific & AustraliaChoose Yes if you are going on a cruise on a sea or ocean. You will NOT have cover under this policy if you select No and go on a cruise.

If you are only taking an inland river cruise choose No.

Worldwide, Europe & AsiaChoose Yes if you are going on a cruise on a sea or ocean for 4 nights or more. If the duration of
your cruise is less than 4 nights, choose No. You will NOT have cover under this policy if you choose
No and go on a cruise for 4 nights or more.

If you are only taking an inland river cruise or a cruise from 1 to 3 nights choose No.

Skiing or Snowboarding

Choose Yes if you are going Snow Skiing or Snowboarding.
You will NOT have cover if you choose No and go Snow Skiing or Snowboarding.

Your age

Enter the age you are today - not the age you are when you are travelling.

Our Frequent Traveller policies are available to travellers 64 years of age and under. For travellers over 64, please choose multiple Single Trip policies.

Commencement date

This is the date that the policy will start. The policy will cover you for a full 12 months from this date.*
You will NOT have cover for anything before this date.

Trip length

This is the maximum length of any single trip. Choose from 15, 25, 40 or 63 days.

You may upgrade to a greater number of days at any time by paying the difference in price.

It looks like you are outside of Australia

If you are and want to buy travel insurance you'll need to buy an Already Overseas
policy.

There may have never been a better time to go on a cruise, but before you do it’s important to consider the benefits of purchasing a travel insurance policy.

These days, if cruise companies cancel or delay a scheduled cruise, they’ll usually compensate passengers with a refund, a reschedule or credit on a future cruise. However, this isn’t the case with all cruise companies, and there are many other monetary considerations besides the cost of the actual cruise.

Consider the following:

What happens to your prepaid deposits if you unexpectedly fall sick before you even make it onboard the cruise ship?

What if you lose your new camera bought especially for the trip?

What if your bag or expensive personal belongings are stolen from your cabin?

What if a family member back home falls seriously ill unexpectedly and you need to return home?

What if you become injured or ill while you’re onboard and need to be airlifted off the ship?

There’s always a risk to travelling, even when you’re going on a cruise! But with the right cruise travel insurance policy you can ensure you have cover for a range of possible emergency expenses and situations.

To help you find the right cruise travel insurance, we’ve put together this comprehensive guide to answer all your questions about travel insurance for your next cruise!

What is cruise travel insurance?

Cruise travel insurance provides cover for many of the unexpected emergency situations you might experience while on a cruise.

You won’t often require cruise cover if you’re going on a river cruise, as this is most often automatically covered in travel insurance policies. However, you will most likely require a specialised cruise travel insurance policy if you’re taking a cruise on a sea or ocean.

1) Cover for unexpectedly having to cancel the cruise:

Cruises aren’t often cheap! If you become sick or injured, or a relative becomes unexpectedly sick or injured before you travel, you might find yourself having to cancel the cruise and at risk of losing your deposit.

Depending on your policy type and level of cover, travel insurance may cover your deposits and any other prepayments that you’ve already made, like onshore excursions and accommodation.

2) Cover for becoming sick or injured:

Sickness and injury on a cruise is not uncommon, and the cost to see an onboard doctor or to be airlifted off the boat is not cheap!

Travel insurance may cover the cost of unexpected emergency medical expenses if you slip and injure yourself on deck, or pick up a nasty virus while cruising on the ocean.

3) Emergency assistance:

If you’re sick or injured and not sure of what to do while you’re on your cruise, you can contact the emergency assistance team 24/7 and get advice.

If you’re at a port and require assistance onshore finding the closest hospital, emergency assistance can also help you do that, as well as manage your case with hospital staff, fly a relative to be with you, or even arrange to get you home if it’s needed.

For more detail on our policies and the benefits that Fast Cover can offer for your cruise holiday, take a look atWhat We Cover.

Can I get cruise travel insurance?

Most travellers should be able to find various travel insurance options that will provide cover for cruises. However, some insurers may apply restrictions to their policies which exclude individuals from cover.

Exclusions you may come across while comparing different travel insurance policies include:

1) Pre-existing medical conditions:

Depending on your travel insurance provider, some of the most common pre-existing medical conditions may be automatically covered. Examples include high blood pressure, diabetes and food intolerances. However, it's important to always check the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) to ensure your conditions are covered.

Other pre-existing medical conditions may not be covered at all, or may be covered by paying an additional premium.

In some cases, you may be excluded from medical cover altogether. For example, if you’re taking a prescribed blood-thinning medication such as Warfarin or Cartia. Check with your travel insurer if you take any prescription medication before purchasing a policy.

2) Age restrictions:

Some travel insurance companies may have a restriction on who they will cover according to age. They may provide cover to people up to the age of 70 or up to the age of 80. However, there are travel insurance policies out there that do provide cover for travellers of any age.

Who should consider buying cruise travel insurance?

Families:

Kids and their parents may get sick before or during the cruise, and no matter how well you plan the trip, accidents do happen.

Groups:

Cover yourselves in case anyone of you becomes sick or injured – it won’t be fun anymore if someone is injured and isn’t covered for the expenses.

Seniors:

Be prepared and make sure you’re covered for medical emergencies, it can happen on-board and even when you’re on a shore excursion.

Couples:

If one of you can’t travel due to illness, you’ll both be able to claim for cancellation costs if the other traveller doesn’t want to travel alone.

Singles:

Travelling alone? Have a cruise travel insurance policy for peace of mind and backup.

Travellers on a long or expensive cruise:

Protect your investment in this holiday and make sure that if you’re not able to travel due to injury or sickness, you’re able to claim for the expenses.

Travellers cruising in domestic waters:

You’re not covered by Medicare once you board the ship, unless there’s a Medicare registered doctor on board.

Is cruise travel insurance expensive?

Cruise travel insurance usually only costs a little bit more than a standard travel insurance policy. Keep in mind the higher costs of medical care onboard cruise ships though, and it will make sense to take out a cruise travel insurance policy.

Do your research and compare the prices for a cruise travel insurance policy, but make sure you also check what the policy includes and what it excludes to find the best value travel insurance policy for your trip.

A family travel insurance policy may provide cover for parents and their kids, or grandparents and their grandchildren. There are various travel insurance policies that provide cover for dependants under the age of 21 free of additional charge, so keep an eye out for these policies.

Also, if you’re travelling as a group it doesn’t hurt to ask your chosen travel insurer for a discount!

Which region does cruise cover come under?

When you’re choosing a cruise travel insurance policy, you may have to select the highest level region to ensure you’re covered for all the destinations you’re travelling to during your cruise.

For example, with Fast Cover policies, if you are going on a cruise in Alaska, you would choose a Worldwide policy which also includes destinations the United States, Alaska and Canada. If you’re going on a cruise around Bali, you would choose the Pacific region.

If you’re unsure of which region to choose for your cruise, check with the travel insurance company.

What if I'm only on a cruise for part of my trip?

When you purchase travel insurance, cover for a cruise may already be included or you may need to purchase an 'add-on' for cruise cover.

When you have a cruise type of policy, you’ll also have cover for the land component of your trip. You can go on a cruise, take a land tour and go island hopping all on the same trip and be covered by the one travel insurance policy.

Always check the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for the full terms and conditions of a policy.

What if I only decide to take a cruise when I've already left?

Get in contact with your travel insurance company before you embark on your cruise to check if you’re already covered under your current policy.

If you’re not, you may be able to add cruise cover to your existing policy by paying the difference in price or an additional premium.

Remember to contact your travel insurer about adding on cruise cover before you embark on your cruise to ensure you're adequately covered.

When shouldn't I buy cruise travel insurance?

You may not require a travel insurance policy that covers you for a cruise if:

You’re going on a river cruise.

You are going on a small day cruise on a bay, such as Halong Bay in Vietnam.

You’re going island hopping in Bali on a small boat.

You’re going on a cruise ship for a few short hours.

You’re taking a short one hour ferry ride to an island.

Check the Product Disclosure Statement to get the full details of cruise cover and to check if it applies to your trip.

Am I covered for all activities on a cruise?

Cruises aren’t just all about the facilities and entertainment available onboard. You may also have the opportunity to go off-shore and go scuba diving, kayaking and trekking in the jungle.

However, these activities may not automatically be included in travel insurance or may have additional requirements, so check the insurer's PDS to be sure.

It’s best to ask your travel insurance company regarding the type of activities you’re covered for. Some companies may allow you to add on extra cover for the more adventurous activities you may be contemplating.

What doesn't cruise travel insurance cover?

Cruise cover is an add-on to your policy, so the same inclusions and exclusions apply whether you’re on land or on the boat. However, there are cruise specific events that aren’t usually covered by cruise travel insurance. These include:

1) Cabin confinement:

If a virus outbreak occurs on board, the Captain may ask that passengers stay in their cabins for the wellbeing of everyone. Passengers wouldn’t be able to claim for missing out on enjoying the boat’s facilities.

2) Change of itinerary:

Missing a scheduled port or changing ports due to bad weather or other reasons is also not something travellers can usually claim for. You may, however, be able to claim for the cost of a booked onshore excursion that you couldn’t take at the missed port.

Do I need cruise cover for a domestic cruise?

Yes, you do.

Many Australian travellers mistakenly believe that they’re automatically covered by Medicare if they’re just going to be travelling in Australian waters. What they don’t realise is that they’ll only be able to use their Medicare card if there’s a Medicare registered doctor onboard the cruise ship.

In most cases there won’t be because the majority of cruise ships are owned by American companies and it’s unlikely that they would have Australian doctors onboard. This means that once your cruise leaves port you won’t have cover from Medicare.

If you get sick or injured on the cruise ship and seek medical attention, you’ll be charged at private rates. That’s why when you go on a cruise, even one in domestic waters, you’ll find that cruise travel insurance will offer medical cover, including the cost of emergency repatriation should you need to be flown from the cruise ship by helicopter in an emergency.

Can I buy one travel insurance policy for multiple cruises?

You may have the option of purchasing what's known as a multi-trip travel insurance policy. These policies may automatically include cover for cruises, although you should always check the Product Disclosure Statement to be sure.

Be aware that there may be age restrictions on multi-trip policies. However, if you’re able to purchase this type of policy, you may get a better deal on travel insurance for multiple cruises over a year than if you purchase single policies for each trip.

When should I buy cruise travel insurance?

You can purchase cruise travel insurance up to the day you leave port. However, if you do this you might be missing out on the benefit of cancellation cover.

Cancellation cover provides cover for the deposits made towards your holiday, including the deposit you would have to pay in advance for your cruise.

If you purchase travel insurance with cancellation cover, you may be able to claim for your lost deposits if you, your travelling companion, or a relative, gets unexpectedly sick or injured before your trip and you can no longer travel.

You can usually purchase travel insurance with cancellation cover up to 12 months before your cruise departure date. Consider purchasing travel insurance as soon as you’ve paid your deposits just in case you have to unexpectedly cancel.

Will I need to pay for medical expenses on the cruise?

Travel insurance may provide cover for medical emergencies you experience while on board a cruise.

If you need to see a doctor onboard, you’ll most likely have to pay the consultation fee and for any medications or treatment that you require upfront. You can then make a claim with your travel insurer to be reimbursed for these costs.

However, for large medical expenses over $2,000, for example which may happen if you have to be medically evacuated from the cruise ship, your travel insurance company may act as a guarantor of payment.

What do I do in an emergency on a cruise?

1) Tell someone you need help

If you’re feeling unwell or you become injured, seek help from the staff onboard the cruise. If something of yours is stolen or lost, inform the cruise staff and get a written report from them.

2) Contact your travel insurance emergency assistance

As soon as possible, get in contact with your travel insurance company’s emergency assistance team and let them know what’s going on. They’ll be able to advise you on what you need to do, and coordinate an emergency medical evacuation if you need to be airlifted off the ship.

If you leave the boat, or organise your own emergency support without the approval of the travel insurance emergency assistance team, you may not be able to claim for the expenses you’ve incurred.

3) Keep all documentation

If you go to a hospital or doctor overseas, get copies of all invoices and medical reports. Similarly, if you make a report for lost or stolen property, keep the report. Documentation will help your travel insurer process your claim faster.

About

Fast Cover Pty Ltd ABN 98 143 196 098, AR No.381399, arranges this insurance as an authorised representative of
the product issuer, The Hollard Insurance Company Pty Ltd, AFSL 241436, ABN 78 090 584 473. Any advice provided is
general only and may not be right for you. Consider the Product Disclosure Statement available on this website, to
decide if the product is right for you. Benefits are subject to the terms and conditions including the limits and
exclusions of the insurance policy. Fast Cover receives a percentage of the premium paid and a share in the underwriting profits.